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Taking Risks and Failing Forward with Ingrid Kiefer, Canyon Partners

Episode #239

Ingrid Kiefer

Head of Business Development and Client Relations at Canyon Partners

Life is not about being perfect. You’re going to make mistakes, especially if you take risks. Our guest Ingrid Kiefer shares insights into her success at work. She believes in taking risks early in your career where the potential failures will not be as impactful as further down the line. Ingrid has created her own opportunities and found success in being authentic and accountable. Ingrid shares stories of how taking ownership creates the right outcomes for the business and for your career.

Grounded by her family, Ingrid tells us how important our personal lives are to success at work. She also talks about how there is power in saying no, not only for our personal boundaries but for the person who needs to know if they can count on you. Join us as we learn from Ingrid how to take risks, fail forward, and be ourselves at work.
  • Highlights

      [02:02] How Ingrid got into finance
      [08:00] The process of choosing what's right for her
      [09:47] Finding confidence in her career
      [11:23] Authenticity at work
      [16:52] Career advice to other women
      [20:27] Tolerating bad behavior
      [22:42] Making tough decisions
      [26:35] How to deal with failure
      [29:40] Staying grounded
      [34:33] Building solid relationships
      [36:21] Power of saying no
      [37:28] Favorite book
      [38:29] Favorite quote
      [38:52] Moniker
      [39:52] Habit that changed Ingrid’s life
      [40:00] Power song

  • Quotes

      “None of the large decisions are made without accomplishing a bunch of little tasks.” – Ingrid Kiefer

      “You’re not going to have a 100% success rate in your job.” – Ingrid Kiefer

      “Fail early, fail small. Fail later, fail big.” – Ingrid Kiefer

      “Make small promises and keep them.” – Ingrid Kiefer

  • Lightning Round Questions

      What book has greatly influenced you? 

      “Inside Story” by Martin Amix


      What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? 

      There’s more harm done in indecision than the wrong decision.


      What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? 

      Authentic. (What you see is what you get.)


      What is one change you've implanted that made your life better? 

      Setting aside time to handle the business of being a family.


      What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? 

      “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses

  • About

      Ms. Kiefer is Head of the Business Development and Client Relations group. Ms. Kiefer oversees all marketing and investor services globally for Canyon, as well as spearheading corporate communications for the firm. Prior to joining Canyon in 2009, Ms. Kiefer was Director of Marketing at Satellite Asset Management, where she was focused on global business development for the firm’s pension and consultant clients. Prior to Satellite, she worked at Drake Management and BlackRock. She started her career at Fischer Francis Trees and Watts as a product specialist in fixed income. Ms. Kiefer graduated from Yale University (B.A., English).

“Fail early, fail small. Fail later, fail big.”

Ingrid Kiefer